The Duchess (2008)

Artwork for Theatrical Release

It turns out, I had already seen this film before.  I'm not sure why I had forgotten it, but I can say that I probably originally watched it because of Keira Knightley, and she, as always, did not disappoint.  I would have continued to chuck it up to deja-vu if not for my wife coming and setting me straight.

The film itself is not really an easily identifiable stand out and that's probably why I had forgotten it.  but it deserves to be remembered and emulated.  It is beautiful in all senses of the word, and what struck me the most, is what is often easily overlooked, and creates the most confusion come Oscar time; sound design and editing.

All the literary elements in the film are subtly hinted in the sound design.  The sound design creates the undercurrent of trepidation and danger in all the sex scenes.  It gives you the undeserved sense of calm and lucidness during the tea scenes.  It smacks you in the face with the drollness of pedantic daily life tick by tock.  And it warns you about getting comfortable with a soft, but menacing low drum or bellow.  It is above all else, simply exquisite.  The best sound design I have heard in any film since Zodiac (2007). 

The other refreshing thing is watching Keira Knightley act, and that's enlightening.  Usually her acting is hidden or easily deterred by her beauty or her enticing smile.  But here, the little nuances in her eyes and body language are delicious, even if you are still sometimes distracted by her devilish wickedness.

As usual, Ralph Fiennes is wittingly evil and cold.  But there is, at the end of the film, a scene of utter intimacy from Mr. Fiennes.  The scene is entirely composed of medium shots and close-ups all of them beautifully composed.  It is here that Fiennes, after 90 minutes, is finally sympathetic and that is simply earth shattering, even if I can't figure out why.

Artwork for Theatrical Release

One could, I suppose, see The Duchess as a philosophical treatise on the American and French Revolution, and the film certainly makes the comparison easy.  Throughout, the characters are shaped and informed by the events occurring abroad, and it is these foreign acts that draw the themes in the most subtle of ways, until Ralph Fiennes smacks you with it.

It is a period piece, that should not be a surprise to you, I hope, but it is a film that is preceded by it's modern themes.   The Duchess's England is one that is beautiful, but also one that is full of traitors and hushed words, as menacing and enticing as Keira's smile.

Sacrifice, the limits of love, duty, familial ties, hubris, pleasure, neediness, and above all else, freedom and liberation and all the adult pain that emanates from these decisions endure throughout the film, making this one of the deeper more dense films about maturity.


Watch this film now.  If you like period pieces, Ralph Fiennes, or Keira, then buy this film, I'm sure it would be stunning on Blu-ray, just don't get mad when your friends can't remember this film exists. 

Shame on them.

Oh yeah, I just remembered why it's forgettable.  It's a film about sexual maturity, but it manages to not show any nudity, except the top two hairs of Ralph Fiennes pubic hubric. 

Discuss.